Combined surface and submarine vessel.



No. 650,758. Patented May 29. i900. S. LAKE.

COMBINED SURFACE AND SUBMARINE VESSEL.

(Application filed Apr. 2, 1897.)

(No Model.)

5 -Sheets-Sheet l.

WITNESSES ITORNPAY No. 650,758. Patented may 29. 1900. s. LAKE.

COMBINED SURFACE AND SUBNIARINE VESSEL.

(Application led Apr. 2, 1897.)

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES NVENTOR4 ATTORNEY if. n

Patented May 29, |900.

S. LAKE.

COMBINED SURFACE AND SUBMARINE VESSEL.

(Application led Apr. 2, 1897.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES `ATTOREY No. 650,758. Patented May 29.1900. S. LAKE.

. GDMBINED SURFACE AND SUBMARINE VESSEL.

(Application led Apr. 2, 1897.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES JNVENTOR. mM/

lTTORNEY No. 650,758. Patented May 29. |900. S. LAKE.

COMBINED SURFACE AND SUBMABINE VESSEL.

(Application led Apr. 2, 1897.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

WITNESSES JVENTOR.

{TTORNEY SMON LAKE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND COMBINE/D SURFACE ND'SUBMARINE VESSEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,758, dated May 29,i900;

Application fuediipfu 2,1897. serai 110.630,442. uiomdeio To (LZZ whomit may concern.:

Be ivt-,known that I, SIMON LAKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented new anduseful Improvements in a Combined Surface and Submarine Vessel, of whichthe following is a specification. l

This invention relates to a combined surface and submarine vessel andmay be employed either as a torpedo-boat or for freight and generalcruising purposes or for subma- .f rine work of all kinds.

It has for its object, first, to combine with l a submarine vesselcylindrical in crosssec tion a superstructure built upon the submarinevessel and aiordin g a large decksurface, buoyancy, and a high freeboardfor surface navigation, the spacev between the submarine vessel and thesuperstructure being adapted to be lled with water when the vessel issubmerged, and thus rendered capable of resisting the pressure of thewater.

It has for its further object to provide such a vessel -with animprovedcomming-tower.

It has for a further object to provide improved observation-cagesadapted to be raised and lowered and from which the movements of anenemy may be observed while the vessel is submerged at different depthswithin certain limits and from which the movements of the vessel may becontrolled and thetorpedoes tired. y

`It has for another object to provide an escape-buoy by means of whichthe occupants of the boat may be sent to the surface of the water andeffect an exit from the buoy while the boat is submerged.

It has for a further object to provide an iinproved turret.

It has for a still further object .to provide improved means forsounding and mcasu ring the depth of the water.

It also has for another object to provide means for automaticallyregulating the sublnergence of the boat at any predetermined depth.

-It has for another object lto provide im- -proved means forautomatically tri mining the boatu'hen it is submerged, either whileunder way or at rest.

It has for a fu rther object to provide wheeled Weights su spendedbeneath the boat and adapted to travel on the water-bed or bottom, andthus enable the boat to travel lover or above the bottom ata determineddistance.

It also has for its object to provide a weight suspended beneath thecenter of buoyancy of the boat and operating to increase the stabilityofthe boat and keep it ou a level keel.

It finally has for its object to improve the construction generally ofvessels of the character described and to increase their efiiciency andpracticability.

To these ends my invention consists in the features and in theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and afterward definitely set forth in the claims followingthedescription, reference being had to the'a'ccompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification', wherein- Figure 1 is a view of m adaptedas a torpedo-boat and arranged in cruising trim. Fig. 2 is a viewshowing the boat submerged, with only the`turret and observation-cagesprojecting above the surface of the water. Fig. 3 is a similar viewshowing the turret submerged. Fig. l is a similar view showing theentire vessel completely submerged. Fig. 5 is a view showing the boatsubmerged and traveling on the water-bed, the escape-buoy being shownalioat. Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the manner of -housing thestanchions of the guard-rail on 'the superstructure. Fig. 7 is a centralvertical longitudinal section of the boat. Fig. Sis a half-plan andhalf-sectional view. Fig. 9 is a transverse section 0n the line 9 9 ofFig. 7. Fig. 10 is a similar view on the line 10 10 of said figure. Fig.11 is a detail sectional view of the escape-buoy in position forsubmergenee. Fig. 12 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 13 is a detailsectional viewof the device for automatically controlling thesubmergence of the vessel. Figs. 14, 15, and 1G are detail views of themeans for electrically co11- trolling the trim of the boat. Fig. 17 is adetail sectional view of the gun-turret and conning-tower. Fig. 18 is adetail sectional view of one of the devices for controllin g the vanesthat regulate the trim of the vessel. Fig. 19

y improved vessel is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 20 is a detailsectional View ot' one of the observation-cages.

ICO

Fig. 21 is atop plan view thereof. Fig. 22 is a detail View of thepropeller for swinging around the bow of the boat.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the hull of thesubmarine vessel,A

of the vessel 1 1s a superstructure comprising da fiat horizontal deck 5and vertical sides 6,

said superstructure conforming to the horizontal sectional shape of thevessel1 and attached thereto water and air tight.- This superstructureadds material buoyancy to the vessel when thelatter is cruising as asurface boat and also gives to the vessel a goed freeboard and ampledeck-space. Vhen cruising as a surface boat, the vessel maybe equippedwith masts 7 and'is provided with a guard; rail extending fore and aftaround the sides of the deck and comprising a rope or cable 8, supportedon stanchions 9. The stanehions 9 are tted in tubes 10,' which dependfrom the deck 5 and are closedat their lower ends to prevent the passageof water therethrough.

lThe stanchions are held in their elevated lpo'- sitions by keys 11, andwhen it is desired to submerge the vessel said keys are removed and thestanchions lowered into their tubes and the masts are unshipped.

Disposed upon each side of the vessel 1 and between the upper sidethereof and the deck of the superstructure are torpedo-tnbes l2, four innumber, two of said tubes being directed forwardand two aft, lthebrceches of the tubes opening into torpedo-rooms 13 and closed bybreech-blocks 14 and closed at their muzzle ends by gate-valves 15. Anisolated observation-room 16 is located in the bow of the superstructureand is provided with observationnports 17. Entrance to said room fromthe boat 1 is had through the hatchway 18. Extending lengthwisethroughout the 'vessel 1 are two parallel decks 19. and 20,

which are formed water and air tight and divide the vessel into threeair-tight compartments a., b, and c,in the central one of which isarranged the machinery of the vessel. Supported upon the deck 10 in thecentral part of the vessel is a comming-tower 21, which projects throughand above the deck 5 of the superstructure and is provided at its topwith a covered hatchway 22. A turret 23 is arranged on thecourting-tower and is adapted to revolve on antifriction-balls 24.'Entrance is had to said turret through an apertui'e 25, formed in itsbottom, and the turret. is connected water-tight to the conning-tower bya gland 26 and packing 27. Asa further safeguard against the entrance ofwater a cap 28 may be secured under the aperture 25. The

turret is revolved by a pinion 29, fixed on a shaft projecting throughthe bottom of the turret and provided at its upper end with a hand-wheel30, said pinion gearing with an annular rack 3l, fixed on the top of theconnin g-tower. Arranged in the turret is a rapidre gun 32, whichprojects through the wall of the turret and is Iitted water-tighttherein by a ball-and-socket joint 33. The gun is elevated and depressedby a hand-screw 34, connected at its upper end to the topof the turret,and is trained horizontally by rotating the turret by means ofthehand-wheel 30. In the conning-tower is arranged a steering- Wheel 35,which through the medium of tillerropes 36 operates the rudder 37 in theusual manner. ingress and egress may be had to and from theconning-tower when the Vessel is afloat through the'hatch 22 and mayalso be had when the vessel is submerged through an air and water lock3S, which is provided with a door 30, opening into the conningtower, andwith a door 40, opening into a companion-way 41, extending to the deckof the superstructure. A covered hatchway 42 leads from the forwardtorpedo-room 13 to the deck 5 and access from said room to the interiorof the vessel is had through a hatch 43. Wa-

ter may be admitted to the interior of the superstructure through portscontrolled by valves 4t, the stems of-which project into the interior ofthe vessel 1, and when the water isthus admitted the airis permitted toescape through a valve 45, 'arranged in the top of the superstructureimmediately in front of the conning-tower. A check-valve 4G is arrangedin the stern of the superstructure, through which the water is expelledwhen compressed air 's admitted to the interior of the superstructurefrom a compressed-air reservoir, hereinafter described. 4

ln the lower compartment c are arranged tanks 47, which are adapted tocontain water to serve as ballast, and a pump 4S, located in thecompartment b, is connected to said tanks by pipes :19, by means ofwhich thetanks may be emptied. The vessel 1 is provided with twinpropellcrs 50, the shafts of which are driven by gas-engines 51, whichare supplied from tanks or reservoirs. (Not shown.) Both engines exhaustthrough a common exhaustpipe 52 into a condenser 53, in whichV the hotgasesare condensed before they make their exit throughan escape-valve't.A checkvalve is arranged between the condenser and escape-valve toprevent the entrance of water.. Arranged in the compartment c is acountershaft 55, which is driven by one of the engines 51 by means of asproekebchain 5G, and said shaft, by means of a chain 57, operates thepump 48. Said counter-shaft also actuates an air-pump 53, which operatesto compress' air and store it in a reservoir 59; From this reservoir thesupply of air to the compartment b may be renewed from time to time whenthe vessel is submerged and may also be discharged into thesuperstructure IlO - then act as motors and operate to drive thepropellers. The dynamos also operate to store up electricity in thestorage battery to operate the various different motors herein' afterdescribed; but to avoid confusion the connections between the dynamosand battery and between the battery and the motors are not shown.

Arranged below the bow and Astern of the Vessel are vertically-operatingpropellers 62 and 63, the shafts of which project up into thecompartment b, as shown, and are driven by electric motors 6l, whichderive their motive force from the storage battery, before referred to.Said propellers exert their force in a vertical direction and operate toraise or lower the bow and stern of the vessel to maintain the latter onan even keel while the boat is submerged, and this operation is renderedautomatic by the following-described means, (most clearly shown inFigs.14, 15, and 16:) Referring te said figures, the numeral 65 indicates adisk of non-conducting material, in

which is formed an annular groove 66, T- shaped in cross-section, asindicated by the dotted lines. Four binding-posts G7, 68,. 69, and areprovided, each of which is formed with a headed neck 71, which isadapted to seat within said groove and by means of which thebinding-posts may be adjusted in their positions. A metallic pendulum 72is pivoted to the center of the disk 65 and is electrically connected tothe storage battery by a wire 73, while the binding-posts 67, 68, 69,and 70 are connected by wires 74 to the motors 64. Return-wires (notshown) lead back from the motors to the battery. The motors G4 operatein opposite directions, so that when the fo`rf ward propeller operatesto raise the bow the after propeller operates to depress the stern, andvice versa. Should the bow sink lower than the stern, the pendulumswings upon its pivot and makes Contact with the binding posts 67 and 68and closes the circuit through the motors, upon which the latter operateto drive the propelleis and raise the bow and depress the stern, andshould the stern sink lower than the bow. the pendulum swings in theopposite direction and closes the circuit through thc binding-posts 69and 70, and thus reverses the motors, which then operate to raise thestern and depress the bow. The forefand-aft trim of the boat may also beeiected when the boat is submerged and under way by leveling-vanes 75and 76, arranged at the bow and stern, respectively. Said vanes arearranged on the opposite sides wheel 93.

'of the boat and are fixed on the ends of shafts 77, which extendthrough the boat transversely. On the shafts 77 are fixed levers 7 S,

which are united by crossed cables 79, whereby when one of the vanes isturned in one direction the other vane will be simultaneously turned inthe.opposite direction. lf the bow of the boat is lower than the stern,-then by turning the vanes so that the'forward edge of the forward vaneis elevated and the forward edge of the after vane is depressed the bowwill lbe raised and the stern will be depressed by the resistanceoffered by vsaid vanes tothe water in a well-known manner, and viceversa, and this operation is performed automatically bythe mechanismmost clearly shown in Figs. 18 and 19. Referring to said figures, thenumeral 80 indicatesa vessel consisting ot two cup-shaped memberssecured together at their edges and having a flexible diaphragm 8.1arranged between said edges. To the diaphragm there is attached a rodS2, that is guided in a fixed bracket 83, and said rod is looselyconnected to one end of a lever 84, which is fixed at its other endl tothe vane'shaft 77. A pipe S5 leads from the under side of the vessel SOand at its other end projects through the boat and opens into the water.A pressure is thus placed upon the under side of the diaphragm equal tothe pressure of the water surrounding the boat. There are two suchdevices provided,

one for each vaneshaft. Should the bow of the boat sink l'ower than thestern, the pressure of the water under the diaphragm in the forwardvessel will exceed the pressure beneath the diaphragm in the `aftervessel, and the diaphragm will then raise the rod 82 and turn the vanes75 in the position shown in Fig. 4, and the vanes 76 are simultaneouslyturned in the oppositerdirection by the cables 79. The boat will then becaused to assume a level keel, and in the same manner will be leveledshould the stern sink lower than the bow.

For causing the boat to be submerged to any given depth the followingmeans are provided: Arranged on the opposite sides of the boatare vanesS6 and 87, that are fixed on shafts extending transversely through theboat. The vanes are preferably arranged in recesses in the planes 3, sothat when they are in. a horizontal plane they practically form a partof said planes, as shown in Fig. 5. Referring to Figs. 7 and 13, thenumeral 88 indicates a cylinder, in which works a piston 89. Into oneend of the cylinder is tapped a pipe 90, which at its other end passesthrough vthe side of the boat and opens into the water, and hencethewater presses on one.side of the piston with a pressure equal to thepres- IOO sure of the water surrounding the boat. On

the opposite side of the piston is a coiled,

spring 91, the tension of which is regulated by a threaded sleeve 92,tapped through the end of the cylinder and provided with a hand- Aknife-edge 94 is formed on the periphery of the hand-wheel and operatesto indicate on a scale 95 'the tension which vthe spring 9l.is placedunder. Piston-rods 96 are attached to the piston at their adjacent endsand at their opposite ends are attached to cranks 97 on the shafts ofthe vanes, one of said rods passing through the sleeve 92. k

The operation of the device is as follows: If it is desired to sink to acertain depth, the vessel 4is placed in a state of equilibrium, thehand-wheel 93 is turned until the knife-edge 94 registers with thegraduation on the scale 95 corresponding to the desired depth, and thespring 91 is thus yplaced under a tension equal to the pressure of waterat such depth and forces the piston forward, and with it the rods 96,which turn thevanes 8G and 87 to the position shown in Fig. 3. As thevessel is propelled ahead the vanes cause it to sink until the'desireddepth is reached, when the pressure of the water will balance thetension of the spring and force back thepiston, thus Irestoring thevanes to the'position shown in Fig. 5. If the boat descends below thedesired depth, the pressure of the water will exceed the tension of thespring and the piston will be forced back and turn the vanes into theposition shown in Fig. 2, and the vessel will thus be caused to ascend.The boat will thus be caused to maintain the desired depth ofsubmergenee automatically.

For the purpose of adding stability to the boat and aid in maintainingit on a level keel I provide a weight 98, suspended by cables 99 fromdrums 100, mounted on a shaft 101. .On the shaft 101 is fixed aworm-wheel 102, which meshes with a worm 103, driven by the auxiliaryshaft 55, before described. The worm 103 may be thrown into and out'ofengagement with the auxiliary shaft 55 by a clutch 103, of anywell-known construction. The weight being below the center of gravity ofthe boat aids in maintaining the boat on a level keel. `It valso servesas a recoverable drop-keel to be used in cases of emergency, for byreleasing the cable hoisting mechanism the weight is permitted todescend and rest on the bottom, thus increasing the buoyancy of the boatand permittingr it to ascend. The

weight may afterward be raised to its seat in the recess 104 by thecable hoisting mecha'uf ism described.

In order to turn the boat quickly, I provide what I' term anathwartships propeller, (indicated by the numeral 105 and .most clearlyshown in Figs. 7 and 22.) As shown in said figures, thc'propeller isarranged in a tube 10G, extending transversely through the underv andforward portion of the vessel, and is fixed on a shaft 107, journaled ina bracket 108, fixedV in the tube. On the shaft 107 is mounted aworm-wheel 109, which gears with a worm 110 on an upright shaft 111. Theshaft 111 extends up into the compartment b and is driven by an electricmotor 112. The said propeller will operate to force the bow of thevessel around in one direction or the other, according to the directionin which tho propeller is rotated, in an obvious manner.

In the bow of the boat is a Well 113, (see Fig. 7 in which is arranged adrum 114, actuated by a worm-shaft 115, driven by an electric motor 116,and on the drum is wound a cable carrying an anchor 117.

Recesses 118 are formed in the forward and after part of the keel, (seeFig. 7,) and in said recesses are pivoted weights 119, consisting ofheavy or weighted arms, in the free ends of which are journaled wheels120. The weights are bent near their point of attachment to the wheels,as shown, and to said weights are connected rods 121,which are connected at their other ends to pistons 1,22. The pistons 122 are fittedin cylinders 128, arranged in the bottom of the boat and-connected withpipes 124, leading tothe pump 48. By admitting water into the cylinders123 the weights 119 drop by gravity into the position shown in Fig. 5,`in which position the 'wheels rest on the bottom, and the boat isthereby relieved of the greater portion of the weight of the arms and isthus rendered buoyant. Should the boat attempt t-o ascend however, theweight of the said arms before they could be lifted from contact withthe bottom would overcome the buoyancy of .the vessel and prevent, itsfurther ascent. By these means the boat would be caused to maintain acourse parallel with the bottom, the wheels yielding and riding overslight obstructions. If sufiicient water only is ad.- mitted to thecylinders to permit the weights 119 to drop but a slight distance belowthe keel, the bent portions of theweights would then come in contactwith the bottom, while the wheels would remain in their housings, and inthis position the weights 1 19 would travel over the bottom after themanner of sleigh-runners; but the -weights 119 would continue to act inthe manner before described. The weights 119 would be used in thismanner when the vessel is traveling over a bottom too soft to permit thepractical opn eration of ythe wheels. It will thus be seen that theweights 119 in reality are merely weights that may be dropped from thevessel, and thus render the latter buoyant, but pre- IOO IIO

vent the'vessel from ascending above a certain distance, limited only bythe length of the connections which hold the weights at'- tached to theboat,'consisting, in the present instance, of the arms themselves.

The yokes in which the wheels-120 are rotatably journaled, may beswiveled in the ends of the weights 119,as at 120, (clearly indicatedvby dotted lines` in Fig. 7 of the drawings,) whereby the wheels arefree to turn after lthe manner of caster-wheels as they travel over thebottom.

To enable observations to be made from the surface when the vessel issubmerged and to permit of one or more of the crew being sent to thesurface and escaping without raising the boat, I provide a buoyconstructed as follows, reference being had toFigs. 4, 7, 11, and 12. Inthe after part of the superstructure is formed a well 140, in which ishoused the buoy, consisting of a closed cylindrical shell 141, in thetop of which is arrangeda hood 142, provided with bulls-eyes 143,through which observations may be made. The hood 142'is hinged to thebuoy, as at 144, and is adapted to be closed water-tight by a latch 145,rotatably iixed in the top ot' the buoy and having a lug 146, whichengages a liange 147, formed on the bottom of the hood. To enable thehood to be opened and closed from either the inside or outside ofthebuoy, the latch is provided with two handles 148. An air-pipe 149projects through the bottom of the buoy and extends to near the topthereof, and to thev lower end of said pipe is' coupled a hose 150,

which is wound about a drum 151, journaled in the bottom of the well.The drum is hollow, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1'1, and is providedwith a hollow shaft or trunnion 152, which projects through astuting-box in the side of the well. The end of the hose 150 isconnected with t-he interior of the drum, and

thus supplies air to the buoy and also serves as a speaking-tuba" Acrank 153 is fixed on the end of the shaft 152, by means of which the'drum may be rotated. A door 154 is arranged in the side of the well 140and communicates with a room in the su perstructu re,and a correspondingdoor 155 is formed in th'e side of the buoy. A frame 156 is attached tothe exterior of the buoy and surrounds the door 155 and is adapted toengage a rubber packing fitted in a corresponding frame 157, attached tothe well-casing and surroundin g the door 154. Bolts 158 are tappedthrough the well-casing and engage threaded aperturesl formed in theframe 156, by which means the two frames 156 and 157 may be drawn uptogether Water-tight. The door 155 is smaller than the door 154, and byremoving the latter door the door 155 may also be removed and withdrawnthrough the doorway in the well. When the doors have been thusl removed,one of the crew may enter the buoy,

hood and fastening it places the buoy in condition to be returned to thcsubmerged boat. This is accomplished by windingl up the hose ou'the drumfrom the-interior of the vessel, and in order to properly house the buoyin the well to`be engaged by the bolts 158 I attach to thc exterior ofthe buoy a circular rack 159, which is engaged by a pinion 160, fixed onthe end of a crank-shaft 161, projecting through a stuing-box in theside of the well. By turning the crank 161 the buoy is rotated until thebolt-holes in the frame 156 register with the bolts 158, when the frames156 and 157 may again be fixed water-tight, the doors 154 and 155removed, and another man sent to the surfacein the manner beforedescribed.

Observations may also be made, the movements of the boat controlled, andthe torpedoes discharged when the boat is only partially submerged, asshown in Fig. 2, or when submerged only to a limited distance, as shownin Fig. 3, by means of observationcages, (shown in det-ail in Figs. 20and 21,) which I will now describe. Wells 162 and 163 are formed,respectively, in the lforward and after part of the superstructure andcommunicate with the interior of the boat by hatches or doors 164 and165. In the wells are housed the observation-cages, and as theconstruction of both cages is identical it will only be necessary todescribe one of them. Referring toFigs. 2O and 21, the cage isillustrated asconsisting of a closed cylindrical vessel 166, havingfixed in its upper end a hood 167, provided with bulls-eyes 168. In thetop of the hood is formed a cylindrical recess 169, having a perforatedbottom 170, and arranged over said bottom is a disk Valve 171, having astem projecting through the bottom and provided at its lower end withastop 172. A coiled spring 173 is arranged about the stem of the valveand operates when the cage is afloat to raise the valve and permit the.entrance of air to the interior of the cage.

When the cage is submerged, the pressure of the water operates to holdthe valve closed and prevent the entrance of water. The cage -isconnected to the boat by two hollow arms 174, which at their upper endsare bent inward at right angles toward each other and are threaded; asmost clearly shown inI Fig. 20. The upper bent ends ot' said armsproject through apertures formed in the opposite sides of the cage 166and are secured rotatably, but water-tight therein, by lock-nuts Th'elowerends of the arms 174 project through the side walls of sinks 176,formed in the deck of the superstructure, and are rotatably connectedwith elboW-pipes 17 7 ,which communicate with the interior of the boatl. The cage is thus free to rise and fall or have a swinging movement onthe arms, the upper ends of the arms turning in the sides of the cageand their lower ends turning in the sides of the sinks 176 and in theelbow-pipes 177. A telephone 178 is arranged in the hood 167 and isconnected with a telephone 178 in the con nin g-tower by conductors 179,which pass down through one of the hollow arms 174. A switchboard 180 isarranged in the cage 166 and is provided with two push-buttons 181,which control the torpedo-tiring mechanism (not shown) of the twotorpedo-tubes arranged n the same end of the boat as the cage, saidswitches being in circuitwith 'wires ICO IIO

182, which down into the boat through one of the hollow arms 17 4. Theswitchboard is also provided with two switches 183, which v tail.

.in Fig. 9, he may pass out of the boat.

are connected by wires 184, also passing down through said arm, with themotor 1'12, which actuates the steering or athwartships propeller 105,and by tunning one or the other of said switches said propeller may beoperated to turn the boat in either direction desired to properly trainthe torpedo-tubes on an enemy. Thecage 166 is provided at its bottomwith a door 185, which is adapted to register with the door in thebottom of the Well, and theA construction and arrangement of said doorsare precisely the same as the doors 154 and 155 in the escape-buoybefore described, and therefore need not be shown and described in de-Arrangcd on the exte'riorof the cage is a drum 186, about which is wounda cable 187 that is attached to the bottom of the well. The shaft of thedrum projects through a stuffing-box in the side of the cage, and on itsinner end is fixed a crank 188, by means of which the drum may berotated from the interior of the cage and the latter be thus hauled downinto its well. The operation of the cages will be understood. The pilotsor gunners may enter the cages either while the boat is afloat orsubmerged and the doors closed in the same manner as that described withreference to the escape-buoy. If the boat be only partiallysubniergedtliat is to say, be submerged so that the top of theconning-tower is approximately awash, as shown in Fig. 2-thc cages willbe afloat with their hoods 167 only projecting above the surface of thewater and the lower part of the cages in their wells, or the boat may beentirely submerged for a short distance, in practice about fifteen feet,as shown in Fig. 23, when 'the cables 187 will unwind and permit thecages to float upon the surface. The buoyancy of the cages, if the boatbe ballasted only slightly more than is sufficient to sink her, willprevent the boat from sin king to a greater depth than the length of thearms 171- will permit, or this depth may he regulated by means of thecables 187 and drums 186. The occupants of the cages can freely makeobservations in every direction and can control the actions of the boatat will. An air and Water lock and a divers chamber 189 are arranged inthe compartment b, and a door 190 (see Fig. 9) is arranged in the bottomof the divers chalnber. A diver equipped with the proper diving-armormaypass from the interior of the boat to the exterior by entering theair and water lock and closing the door 1 9 1 behind him and then passinto the divers chamber and close the door 192 behind him,wh en byopening the door 190, as shown by dotted lines In the same manner hemayreturn. No detailed description or illustration of the"lock and diverschamber, however, is necessary, as the same forms no part of the presentinvention, being fully sh ownwand described in my application for patentfiled April 5, 1893, and serially numbered 469,199, and since patentedon the .20thv day of April, 1897, No. 581,213. A switchboard 180 isarranged inthe connin g-tower and is provided with-switches controllingthe steering-propellers, the torpedofiring mechanism, and the variousother electrically-controlled mechanisms.

The operation of my improved boat may be briefly reviewed as follows: InFig. 1 the vessel is shown rigged for surface navigation, the mastsbeing stepped in place and the guard-rail in position. In this trim thesuperstructure aifords ample deck room and a high freeboard and alsomaterially adds to the buoyancy ofthe vessel. Should it be desired tosubmerge the vessel, the masts are u nshipped and the guard-rail loweredby dropping the stanchions 9 into their tubes 10. A predeterminedquantity of water is then admitted into the ballast-tanks 47 in thebottom of the boat. The air-valve 45 and inletvalves 44 are next opened,allowing'water to flow into the space between the top of the vessell andthe deck of the superstructure,which still f urther reduces the bupyancyof the vessel. The pilotis having previously taken position in theobservation-cages 166, if a sufficient quantity of water has beenadmitted toY the water-ballast tanks the vessel will assume the positionshown in Fig. 2, in which position only the turret and the hoods of theobservation-cages willbe exposed above the surface of the water. Whenthe vessel is submerged in this manner, the rapid-fire gun may be putinto action to ward off the attack of small boats. Should it be desiredto still further submcrge the vessel, an additional quantity of Watermay be admitted to the water-ballast tanks sufficient to overcome the,buoyancy of the turret, and the occupants of the vessel to `starboardor port and discharge the torpedoes when the target is in alinement. Ifit is desired to disappear entirely from the surface, an additionalquantity of water is admitted to the ballast-tan ks, sufiicient toovercome the buoyancy of the observation-cages, which arel drawn downinto their wells, and their occu pants then pass to the interior of theboat in the manner heretofore described. llhe depth-regulating mechanism(shown in. Fig. 13) is then set for the-depth desired, thus placing thevanes 86 and 87 vin the position shown in Fig. 3, and the vesselthenpropelled ahead. The said vanes cause the boat to sink to the depthat which the mechanism may be set for and, in connection with the level-IOO ITO

ing-vanes 75 and 7G and their automatic controlling mechanism and thevertical propel- 1ers and their regulating device, operate to maintainthe desired depth; or the vessel may be still further ballasted andpermitted to settle on the bottom, when the arms 119 are dropped belowthe keel until the wheels 120 rest on the bottom and render the vesselagain buoyant, as before described. If the bottom is too soft` for thewheels to properly travel thereover, the arms are allowed to drop onlysu liciently to cause their bent portions to project below the keel,when they will then act as runners in the manner heretofore described.iVhen in this position, communication may be had with the surface of thewater by means of the escape-buoy, as shown in Fig. 4 and describedabove.

I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to the exact detailsof construction herein shown and described, as many modifications can bedevised without departingr from the spirit of my invention. I also wishit to be understood that while I have shown and described the inventionas applied to a torpedo-boat I do not limit my invention thereto, as itwill be manifest that the invention is equally well adapted Yfor vesselsdesigned for submarine work of all kinds, for scientific research andinvestigations, for carrying freight, or for pleasure, the necessaryineditications or arrangement of space and the like readily suggestingthemselves to those skilled in the art.

Having deserib claim is l. The combination with a submarine vessel, ofaclosed superstructureixed upon said ed my invention, what I vessel airand Water tight, means for admitwardly-opening check-valve forpermitting' ting water to the interior ture, and means for from,substantially 2. The combination with a submarine vessel', of a closedsuperstructure fixed upon said vessel air and water tight, means forsimultaneously admitting water to the interior of said superstructureand permitting the'escape of air therefrom, and means for ejecting thewater, substantially as describet.

3. The combination with a submarine vessel, and carrying acompressed-air reservoir, ofa closed superstructure fixed upon saidvessel air and water tight, an air-escape valve arranged in the deck ofsaidsuperstructure, water-inlet'valvcs for admitting water to theinterior of the superstructure, aud an outof said superstrucejecting thewater thereas described.

the escape of the water ture when compressed interior thereof from tervoir, substantially as described.

4. The combination with asubmarine vessel, of a closed superstructurefixed upon said vessel air and water tight, and havingadobservation-room arranged in the bow thereof, a hatch for establishingcommunication bevation-,room and the interior from the su perstructweensaid obser air is admitted to the he compressed-air resi adpelling itfrom the inucture. substantially as of the submarine Vessel, and meansfor mitting water toY and ex terior of the superstr described.

5. The combination with a submarine ves-` sel, of a closedsuperstructure fixed upon said vessel air and water tight, means foradmitting water to and expelling it from the interior of saidsuperstructure, and a collapsible guard-rail arranged around the deck ofsaid superstructure and comprising a plurality o1 stanchionsmovablyiitted in tubes depending from said deck and closed at theirlower ends, a cable connected to the upper ends of the stanchions, andkeys adapted to pass through said stanchions to hold them in theirraised positions, substantially as described.

6.. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a closed superstructurefixedupon said vessel air and water tight and having a fiat deck, aeonning-tower fixed on the said vessel -and communicating with theinterior thereof, said conning-tower projecting through and above saidsuperstructure, and an air and water lock communicating withthe interiorof the conning-tower and with the deck ofthe superstructure to permitingress and egress to and from the cunning-'tower when submerged,substantially as described.

7. The combination with. a submarine vessel, of a closed superstructurefixed upon ysaid vessel air and water tight, torpedo-tubes arranged inthe fore and after part of said su perstructure and communicating attheir breech ends with the`interior of the said vessel, and gate-valvesfor closing the outer ends of said torpedo-tubes, substantially asdescribed.

8. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoy, means for passingback and forth from the interior of the vessel to the buoywhen thevessel is submerged, a door for closing said buoy water-tight, a drum, ahose Wound about the drum and communieating with the interior of thevessel at one end and connected at its other end to the buoy, and meansfor rotating the drum to vraise and lower the buoy, substantially asdescribed.

9. The combination with a submarine vessel, of abuoy, means for passingback and forth from the interior of the vessel to the buoy when thevessel is submerged, a door for closing said buoy water-tight, a hollow12o drum, a hose wound about the drum and communicating with theinterior thereof and connected at its other end to the buoy, and ahollow crank-shaft projecting into the interior of the vesselforrotating the dr llower the buoy, substantially as described.

lO. The com bination with a submarine vessel, of a buoy having a hoodarranged on its upper end and provided with bulls-eyes,

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interior of the vessel to the buoy when the vessel is submerged, a doorfor closing the buoy water-tight, a hose leading from the buoy to theinterior of the vessel and means um to raise and I 2 5v means forpassing back and forth from the 13o.

the buoy to the interior of the vessel, and

means for winding up and unwinding said hose to raise and lo wer thebuoy, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoy, means forpassing back and forth from the interior of the vessel to the buoy when'the vessel is submerged, a door for closing said buoy water-tight, anair-pipe projecting through the bottom of rthe buoy and extending tonear the top thereof, a hollow drum, a hose wound about the drum andcommunicating with the interior thereof and connected at its other. endto the lower end of said air-pipe, and a hollow crankshaft projectinginto the interior of the vessel for-rotating the drum to raise and lowerthe buoy, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a. submarine vessel having a Well in. its deck,of a buoy housed in said well, means for passing back and forth from theinterior of the vessel to the buoy when the vessel is submerged, a doorfor closing said buoy water-tight, ahollow drum journaled in the bottomof said well and provided with a hollow crankshaft projecting into theinterior of the vessel, and a hose connected at one end tothe buoy andat its other end wound about and communicating with the interior of thedrum, substantially as described.

14:. The combination with a submarine vess el having a well in its deck,of a buoy housed in said well, means for passing back and forth from theinterior of the vessel to the buoyv l when the vessel is submerged, adoor for closing said buoy water-tight, ahollow drum journaled in thebottom of said well and provided with a hollow crank-shaft projectinginto the interior of the vessel, a hose connected at one end to the buoyand at its other end Wound about and communicating with the interior ofthe drum, and means for detachably fastening the buoy in the well,substantially as described.

15. The combination with a submarine vessel having a well in its deck,of a buoy housed in said well, a door arranged in one `side of saidbuoy, a corresponding door arranged in the'sde of the well, means foreffecting a water-tight seal around said doors, means for locking thebuoy in the well, a ho'se comm unieating at one end with the interior ofthe buoy and at its othcrend with the interigr of the vessel, and meansfor winding up said `hose to draw the buoy into the well, substantiallyas described.

16. The combination with a submarine vessel having a well in its deck,of a buoy housed in said well, a door arranged in one side of said buoy,a corresponding door arranged in the side of the well, a frame attachedto the well-casing and surrounding the door and provided wit-h a rubberpacking, a corresponding frame attached to the side of the buoy andsurrounding the door in said buoy, bolts projecting through thewell-casing and engaging the frame on the buoy, said bolts operating todraw said frames together water-tight, and a hose communicating at oneend with the interior of the buoy and at its other end with the interiorof said vessel, substantially as described.

17. The combination with a submarine ves# sel having a well in its deck,of abuoy housed in said well, a'door arranged in one side of said buoy,a corresponding door arranged in the side of the well, a frame attachedto the well-casing and surrounding the door and provided with a rubberpacking, a corresponding frame attached to the side of the buoy andsurrounding the door in said buoy, bolts projecting through thewell-casing and en-y gaging the frame on the buoy, said bolts operatingto draw said frame togethcrwatertight, a hose communicating at one endwith the interior of the buoy' and at its other end with the interiorofthe vessel, a circular rack su rrounding and attached to the buoy, and acrank-shaft projecting through the wellcasing and provided with a pinionadapted to engage said rack to rotate the buoy and cause the said framesto register, substantially as described. n

18. The combination with a submarine boat, of a buoyant cage, and an armattached to the cage and pivotally connected to the vessel,substantially as described.

19. The combination with asubmarine vessel, of a buoyantobservation-cage, and two hollow arms pivotally connected at theiropposite ends to and communicating with the interior of said cage andvessel, substantially as described. Y

20. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoyantobservation-cage, two hollow arms pivotally connected at their oppositeends to and communicating with the interiors of said cage and vessel, acable lead- ICS ing from said cage to said vessel, and means sys drumand at its other end attached tosaid vessel, substantially as described.

22.; The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoyantobservation-cage, two hollow arms pivotally connected at their oppositeends to, and communicating with the-interiors of said cage and vessel,`means for raising and lowering said cage, and a hood jprojecting fromthe upper end of the cage and provided with bulls-eyes, substantially asdescribed.

23. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoyantobservation-cage, two hollow arms pivotally connected at their oppositeends to, and communicating with the interiors of said cage and vessel,means for raising and lowering said cage, a hood projecting from theupper end of the cage and provided with bulls-eyes, an air-valve in thetop of said hood arranged to be closed by the pressure ofthe water whensubmerged, and a spring operating to open said valve when the buoy isafloat to admit air to the latter, substantially as described.

24. The combination with alsubmarine vessel, of a buoyantobservation-cage, two hol-v low arms pivotally connected at theiropposite ends to, and communicating with the interiors of said cage andvessel, means for raising and lowering said cage, a hood projecting fromthe upper end of the cage and provided at its top with a cylindricalrecess having a perforated bottom, a disk valve arranged in said recessand adapted to be closed by the pressure of the water when the cage issubmerged, and a spring arranged beneath said valve and operating toraise the latter to ad-Y mit air when the cage is afloat, substantiallyas described.

. 25. The combination with a submarine vessel having a well iu its deck,of a buoyant observation-cage housed in said well, two hol- 'low armspivotally connected at their opposite ends to, and communicating withthe interiors of said cage' and vessel, and means for drawing said cageintosaid well, substantial] y as described.

26. The combination with a submarine vessel having a well in its deck,of a buoyant observation-cage housed` in said well, two hollow armspivotally connected at theiropposite ends to, and communicating with theinteriors of said cage and vessel, means for drawing' said cage into thewell, and means for passing back and forth from the vessel to the cagewhen the latter is housed, substantially asA described.

27. The combination with a submarine' vessel, of a buoyantobservation-cage,two hollow arms pivotally connected at their oppositeends to, and communicating with the interiors of V`said cage `andvessel, electrical signaling and controlling devices arranged in saidcage, and conductors leading from said devices through the hollow armsto the inte rior of the vessel, substantially as described.

28. The combination with a submarine vessel having two wellsrespectively arranged in the forward and after part ofthe deck ofobservation-cages housed in said wells, hollow arms pivotally connectedat their opposite ends to, and communicating with the interiors of saidvessel and cages, and means for drawing said cages into saidwells,substantially as described.

29. The combination with a submarine vessel, of fixed rigid,horizontally-projecting planes arranged upon the'opposite sides of thevessel and extending fore and aft, said planes being provided withrecesses,as shown, and fiat pivoted vanesarranged in said recesses andwhen turned horizontally operating to form continuations of said planes,substantially as described.

30. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two pivoted vanesarranged on each side of said vessel and near the opposite ends of thelatter, and means connecting said vanes to cause them to simultaneouslyturn in opposite directions, substantially as described.

3l. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two shafts projectingtransversely through said vessel, vanes fixed on the outer ends of saidshafts, levers fixed between their ends on said shafts, and crossedcables attached to the opposite ends of said levers,` whereby the saidvanes are simultaneously turned in opposite directions, substantially asdescribed.

32. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two shafts projectingtransversely through said vessel, vanes fixed on the outer ends of saidshafts, means connecting said shafts to cause the vanes tosimultaneously turn in opposite directions, and mechanism actuated bythe variation in the pressure of the water at the bow and stern foroperating said vanes, substantially as described.

33. The combination with a submarino vessel, of two shafts projectingtransversely through said vessel, vanes fixed on the outer endsof saidshafts, means connecting said shafts to cause the vanes tosimultaneously turn in opposite directions, hollow casings arranged inproximity to each of said shafts and connected at their lower ends withthe water surrounding the vessel, exible diaphragms arranged insaid-easings, stems actuated by said diaphragms,and arms fixed on saidshafts and connected to said stems, whereby the depression of the bow orstern of the vessel causes a variation in the pressure of the water onsaid diaphragms and operates the vanes to place the vessel on an evenkeel, substanf tially'as described. y

34. The combination with a submarine vessel of two shafts projectingtransversely through said vessel, vanes fixed on the outer ends of saidshafts, cranks fixed on said shafts in the interior of said vessel, acylinder, a piston arranged in said cylinder, piston-rods connected attheir adjacent ends to said piston and at their opposite ends to saidcranks, a spring arranged in one end of the cylinder IOC IIO

sel, of two shafts projecting transversely through said vessel, vanesfixed on the outer ends of said shafts, cranks fixed on said shafts onthe interior of said vessel, a cylinder, a piston arranged in saidcylinder, piston-rods connected at their adjacent ends to said pistonand at their opposite ends to said cranks, a spring arranged in one endef the cylinder` for forcing the piston in one direction, meansconnecting the other end ofthe cylinder with the water surrounding thevessel, and means for adjusting the tension ot` said spring,substantially as described.

ISG. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two shafts projectingtransversely through said vessel, vanes fixed on the outer ends of saidshafts, cranks fixed on said shafts on the interior of said vessel, acylinder, a piston arranged in said cylinder, piston-rods connected attheir adjacent ends to said piston and at their opposite ends to saidcranks, a spring arranged in one end of the cylinder for forcing thepiston in one direction, means connecting the other end of the cylinderwith the water surrounding the vessel, means for adjusting the tensionof the spriug, and an indicator for indicating the tension to which thespring may be adjusted, substantially as described.

37. The combination with a submarine vessel, ot two vertical propellorsrespectively arranged near the bow and stern of the vessel, means f orrotating. said propcllers simultaneously in opposite directions, andacircuit closing and reversing device actuated by the foreand-aftcareening of thc vessel for throwing said means into operation to putthe vessel on a level keel, substantially as described.

88. The combination with a submarine vessel, of two vertical propellersrespectively arranged ncar the bow and stern of the vessel, electricmotors for rotating said propellers simultaneously in oppositedirections, a battery for operating said motors, a circuit closing andreversing device actuated by the fore-andat't vcarcening.; of the vesselfor throwing said motors into operation to put the vessel on a levelkeel, and means for adjusting said circuit closing and reversing deviceto make it respond more or less quickly to the movements of the vessel,substantially as described.

3f). The combination with a submarine vessel, ot two verticalpropeller-s respectively arestarse dulum pivoted intermediate its endsto said base, and a wire connected at one end to said pendulum and atits other end to the said battery, whereby when the vessel is on a levelkeel the pendulum hangs free from engagement with all of said contactsand the motors are out of circuit, but when the vessel sinks by the bowor stern the pendulum swings into engagement with two of the contactsand throws said motors into circuit to place the vessel on a level keel,substantially as described.

40. The combination with a submarine vessel of two vertical propcllersrespectively arranged near the bow and stern of the vessel,

electric motors for rotating said propellcrs simultaneously iueppesitedirections, a battery for operating said motors, two norm ally-open andreversely-connected circuits leading to the motors, and acircuit-closing device for controlling the motors and comprising a diskof insulating material having an annular groove formed therein, fourbinding-posts adjustablyarran ged in said groove and connected to theterminals ol' the motor-circuits, a metallic pendulum pivotedintermediate its ends to said disk and a wire connected at one end tothe pendulum and at its other end to the battery, the arrangement beingsuch that when the vessel is on a level keel the pendulum hangs freefrom engagement with all of the binding-posts, but when the vessel sinksby the bow or the stern said pendulum swings into engagement with two ofthe coutaets and throws the motors into circuit to restore the vessel toa level keel, substantially as described.

41. The combination with a submarine vcs sel, of a weight provided witha wheel adapted to run upon the bottom or water-bed when the vessel issubmerged, and means for rais-- ing and lowering said weight,substantially as described.

l2. The combination with a submarine boat, ofa weight provided with awheel to run upon the bottom or water-bcd,and mechanism for raising andlowering the weight at pleasure, the boat being adapted to lift andcarry the weight when required, substantially as described.

43. The combination with a buoyant subr marine boat, of a weightprovided with a wheel to run upon the bottom or water-bed,

the boat being provided with mechanism [for raising and lowering the weight'and for holding it at an adjusted distance from the bottom of theboat, substantially as described.

514. Ilhe combination with a buoyant submarine boa't, of a weightmovably attached to the boat and provided witha wheelA to support theweight movabl-y upon the bottom or Water-bed, substantially asdescribed.

4 5. The combination 'with a buoyant submarine boat, of a Weightprovided with a wheel te run upon the bottom or water-bed, means forballasting the boat to cause it'to remain suspended above the bottomwhen IOO IIO

vsubmerged and the said weight is resting on the bottom or water-bed",and means for raising and lowering the weight, whereby the boat may bemoved at a uniform distance ,above the bottom or water-bed with theWheeled weight resti ug thereon, substantially as described. l

"46. The combination with a submarine ves-v sel, of weights pivotallyconnected at their forward ends to the under side of the vessel andhaving wheels journaled in their after ends, cylinders arranged iu saidvessel, pistons fitted in the cylinders, piston-rods pivotally'connected at thci;` opposite ends to the pistons and said weightsrespectively and means for admitting water to the upper ends of saidcylinders to project said weights downward to force the Wheels intocontact with the water-bed or bottom, substantially as described.

47. The combination with a submarine boat, of a weight arranged beneaththe normal center of buoyancy of the boat, hoisting mechanism carried bythe boat for raising and lowering the weight, and cables attached attheir lower ends to the forward and after ends of said weight and attheir upper ends to said hoisting mechanism, substantially as described.

48. The combination .with a submarine boat, of a weight arranged foreand aft beneath the normal center of buoyancy of the boat, and flexibleconnections for suspending said weight to the boat, substantially asdescribed.

49. The combination with a buoyant submarine boat, of a movable ortraveling weight attached to the boat and Yprovided with a wheel tosupport the weight movably u'pon the ocean-bottom, substantially asherein set forth.

50. The combinatiolrwith a buoyant submarine boat, of a movable ortraveling weight attached to the boat and provided with 'a caster-wheelto support the Weight movably upon the oceanfbottom, sllbs'tan tially asherei in set forth.

In testimony whereof' I have hereunto set my hand in presence oftwo'subscribing 'witi messes.

SIMON LAKE.

Witnesses:

F. B. KEEFER,

VINToN CooMBs.

